1. What inspired you to write your book and how did the idea come to life?
The idea came about many years ago when I observed a friend being unfairly treated and judged only because of her religion. It made me start questioning and wondering why so many religions exist and where love or hate begins. How is it possible for people to believe untruths so easily? This was eye-opening but certainly not uncommon. Over my life, I realized that people fear what they don’t relate to or aren’t familiar with, which leads to an us vs. them mentality. I have a gift of being able to explain things to people in a way that they can relate to easily. And this led to my idea taking shape. Because I believe in an all-loving and all-knowing God, there had to be an explanation for why so many religions exist around the world. The analogy of ice cream came to me as a concrete answer to an abstract question. Everyone knows of and is familiar with ice cream. It’s relatable as well as enjoyable. Bringing the ideas together made perfect sense, and I knew I was onto something big, yet so simple.
After the sudden passing of my younger brother last year, the idea to put my theory into a children’s book took shape. My niece, my brother’s daughter, encouraged me to make the book a reality. It was time to put this message out into the world. I immediately agreed! I would be overjoyed if my book could inspire people to think differently with love and acceptance. The world needs less hate and division more than ever.
2. Can you share your initial goals for publishing your book?
My goals for publishing this book include more love, acceptance, tolerance, kindness, and an understanding that our differences in faith aren’t all that different. That we all want the same things for our children. I believe God never makes mistakes, which means everything should be as it is, but it’s our responsibility to understand and accept. Yet things are at an all-time low when it comes to religions. Putting this book out in the world is my way of doing my part to create respect and tolerance of humanity. I hope my message will be welcomed by anyone who reads my book. And even though it’s a children’s book, the message is universal for all ages.
3. What made you choose Gatekeeper Press as your publishing partner? How did the experience meet or exceed your expectations?
I spent a lot of time researching different publishing companies. After speaking with Tony, I knew I had found the right place!
I have never regretted my decision. Working with Gatekeeper Press has far exceeded my expectations.
4. How would you describe the process of working with Gatekeeper Press, from manuscript submission to publication?
The process of working with Gatekeeper Press couldn’t have been more straightforward. The team that was assigned to me was precisely the right team for me! I hope I wasn’t too difficult for them to deal with, as I needed a lot of handholding to get this book from idea to publication.
5. What challenges did you encounter during your publishing journey, and how did Gatekeeper press assist in overcoming them?
I never had any challenges working with Gatekeeper Press. I was made to feel I was directing my team, and they all were super professional. They made me think they were here for me to make the book a reality.
6. Were there any aspects of the publishing process that surprised you or differed from what you initially expected??
I had no expectations because I had no idea how to publish a book. I was thrilled they held my hand and led me through this process.
7. How do you hope readers will receive your book, and what do you hope readers will retain from it?
I hope readers connect with my message and are moved to remember this idea. I want readers to feel good after reading my book and its positive message. My idea is unique and hasn’t been stated this way before. I am proud to have had the opportunity to share my message with others.
8. What was your favorite part of the publishing experience with Gatekeeper Press?
The process of writing a book was very daunting to me. Having the team I had was the best part of the process for me, as communication was easy, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how my book turned out. Everyone was supportive, knowledgeable, professional, and never made me feel my many questions were bothersome. My illustrator was outstanding in taking my thoughts and ideas and capturing the look and feel of the book exactly as I had pictured it in my mind.
9. Would you recommend Gatekeeper Press to other authors? Why or why not?
And for all these reasons, I recommend Gatekeeper Press to others thinking about publishing a book. I feel blessed to have found Gatekeeper Press. I would have recommended Gatekeeper Press to others, as I cannot imagine a better way to go from an idea to the fruition of publishing a book (or 2)!
10. What advice would you give to aspiring authors considering self-publishing their work??
My advice to aspiring authors would be that, unless they are savvy enough to navigate this process independently, they should choose a publishing company to help them. Gatekeeper Press has been my best experience, and I feel I’ve gotten my money’s worth and then some.
Discover more about The Ice Cream Shop and purchase a copy here.
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